Protests Trouble World Cup Prep

Posted on Oct 15, 2009

Angry South Africans are protesting the construction of stadiums for next year’s World Cup, saying government promises to provide basic services—housing, water, electricity—have been broken as money is lavished on preparing for the world’s biggest sporting event.

The BBC:

More than 30 South Africans have been arrested after a violent protest near a 2010 World Cup stadium in Mpumalanga Province, police say.

The protesters are demanding that the government honour its promise to build a new school if they made way for the construction of the Mbombela staduim.

Police told the BBC that the situation was “tense but under control”.

A BBC correspondent says there are fears that the recent spate of violent protests could disrupt the World Cup.